Wire twisting tool



July 7, 1936. T. n BAKER WIRE TWISTING TOOL Filed Dec. 28, 1935 Theodore D. Baker Patented July 7, 1936 tree sures ears FEQE A 2,046,497 WIRE TWISTING TOOL Theodore D. Baker, Seattle, Wash. Application December 28, 1935, Serial No. 56,566 3Qlaims. (01, 140-113 My inventionrelates to tools for use in twisting the form wires used in holding together concrete forms. 7 a

It is necessary in the erection of concrete forms to twist together the wires extending from one side of the other of the form, to draw these sides of the form together to the proper distance, and to hold them against separation. This is generally done by twisting the ends of the wires together, first by hand at one side of the form, then with pliers tightening the wires as much as possible, which is still insufiicient, and then reaching between the two sides of the form with a pair of pliers and engaging the handle of the pliers between the two strands of the wire, twisting them together, until they have beendraw sufficiently tight; This is inherently a time consuming job, and the more so as the workman must reach into. a comparatively narrow space where wire ends,. nails, reinforcing steel, splinters, and other obstructions are liable to be encountered, and where he may scratch'his hands or lose his tool. To obviate these difficulties it has been heretofore proposed to employ tools to engage the ends of the wire at one side of the form, and to twist them, and to pull them through, but all such tools, so far as I am aware, require insertion of the ends of the wires into apertures, or their careful positioning in the tool, with the result that time is lost in the engagement, and more particularly in the disengagement of the wire after the twisting operation is completed. These tools are further objectionable in that the two ends of the wire, bent about the stud at the opposite side of the form, and then simultaneously grasped by the tool, may be and usually are of uneven length, but will bite into the stud and resist pulling around evenly, and hence are unevenly tensioned. When tw sted they may slip, one end relative to the other, or intrying to pull the form together one end of the wire may be so twisted and tensioned that then or later it breaks. Moreover, such tools, so far as I have any knowledge, are comparatively clumsy and expensive.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a tool which is simple, yet strong and rugged, and one which is inexpensive, and particularly one which can be readily engaged with the wire at one side of the concrete form, and which without disengagement may be employed to draw the wires taut as many times as may be necessary, and immediately thereafter, without disengagement, to twist the wires, and which in twisting them will automatically insure parts are eliminated, and the tool is thereby made 10 more rugged and less expensive.

My invention comprises the novel tool, as shown in the accompanying drawing, and as will be more particularly described in this specification and defined by the claims terminating the same. 15

In the accompanying drawing I have shown my tool. in a form which has been foundsuitable for use, though the precise form thereof may be varied as will appear hereafter.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the tool.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the tool in use, the form. being shown in section, illustrating thoperation of pulling the wires taut," and Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the twisting operation. Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, illustrating how the tool will automatically equalize the length and tension of the two ends of the wire. It will be understood that the size of the wire has been shown somewhat exaggeratedly in these views in proportion to the size of the tool and the form parts, hence the operation as illustrated is not strictly in accordance with the true facts.

Preferably the tool is made of a single bar bent to shape. Starting at one end, it comprises a handle I, which is adapted to be grasped in one hand, as for example the left hand, of the workman. Proceeding thence along the tool toward the opposite end, it is formed with a crank portion 2 offset from the handle I, to be grasped in the right hand, the two parts I and 2 constituting a crank handle, by which the tool may be rotated around the axis defined in general by the handle portion I. From the crank portion 2 the tool, adjacent the end opposite the handle I, is preferably bent, first as indicated at 3, to a point within the axis of rotation, and then laterally to one side or the other of such axis, to form a fulcrum portion 4. However, it will be understood that the crank handle 2 might be extended directly to the fulcrum part 4 without the bend indicated at 3. From the fulcrum portion the tool extends substantially diametrically past the axis of rotation, and to the opposite side thereof, and is formed as a spike 5, pointed somewhat so that it may easily enter or be inserted behind apreliminary twist of the ends of the wire. It is also preferably provided with a shoulder 6, lying substantially in the axis of rotation, which limits the extent of insertion of the spike. Preferably the spike and fulcrum 4 are disposed at opposite sides of a diameter through this axis of rotation, that is, each disposed substantially along a line at right angles to the axis of rotation.

The studs I and B, with the form boards 9 and Ill, constitute the form which is being erected. A wire II is extended through the form around one of the studs, as sides of the other stud I. Here, as seen in Figure 2, the ends may be given one liminary twists, as indicated at I2, by hand, whereupon the spike 5 is inserted behind this twist, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, until the shoulder 6 engages the wires, and the twist will offer sufiicient resistance that when the fulcrum 4 is placed against the stud 'I the wires may be pulled through and pulled somewhat taut, to take up slack. If the ends are unequal, or unevenly tensioned, or if the spike 5 is not engaged directly behind the twist I2, it is immaterial. Upon pulling through in the manner just described the two ends will be equally tensioned, as is evident from Figure 4. Immediately thereafter, without any disengagement of the tool it may be rotated about the axis defined by the handle I, in the manner indicated in Figure 3, the twist being preferably in the opposite direction to the twist I2, forming the twist I3 as seen in Figure 3. If this does not suficiently bring the form boards together, the tool, without disengagement, may again be brought down with its fulcrum 4 against the stud I, the wires pulled through in the manner indicated in Figure 2, and the slack thus taken up is again twisted. While the wire is shown of exaggerated size in Figures 2 and 3, in actual practice the twist l3 will not take up so 8, and past opposite 01 more pregagement behind a preliminary twist.

much space but what the subsequent pulling through operations may be readily accomplished, and if the twist I3 should be of such length as to make this difiicult, the tool may be quickly. disengaged and reengaged behind the twist I3. 5

As soon as the form boards have been brought close enough together the tool is disengaged by V withdrawing the spike from behind the two twists I2 and I3. All these pulling through. and. twisting operations maybe accomplished'without disengagement of the tool and in a very rapid manner, yet the disengagement is readily accomplished when the operation is completed. Furthermore, the twist given the wire is a natural twist, so that the wire is not unduly stressed at any given point, and hence has no undue tendency to break or pull loose.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A tool for twisting and tightening concrete form wires, comprising a crank handleand a spike disposed transversely of the cranks axis, said tool having also a fulcrum formed on the opposite side of such axis from the spike.

2. A tool for twisting and tightening concrete form wires, comprising a crank handle, a spike disposed substantially at a right angle to the cranks axis at one end thereof, and terminating in a wire-engaging shoulder disposed in such axis, and said tool also having a fulcrum'formed on the opposite side of such axis from the spike.

3. A tool for twisting and tightening concrete form wires, consisting of a bar having a straight end forming a handle, thence extending outwardly andback to the line of said handle, to form a crank for rotation of the tool about an axis de- 35 fined by said handle, thence extending outwardly from such axisto form a fulcrum adjacent its end opposite the handle, and thence extending across such axis, and formed as 'a spike for en- THEODORE D. BAKER. 

